Kingfisher Lodge Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

07/09/2025

📚Read a book day 2025 📚

Yesterday we celebrated Read A Book Day 2025 with a coffee morning and book drive to try and get some “new to us” books for our new mobile library that we are hoping to create for our residents and we have made a good start!

One resident was so pleased to see a couple of Enid Blyton books “oh I loved these when I was a child what a treat to read them again and go back in time for a while” she said.

We also tucked in to some delicious cakes had a big debate about who are the greatest book characters of all time and we even had our favourite furry friend Millie the PAT dog join us whose favourite character by the way was of course Lassie!!

We have had a few promises of more books from people that couldn’t make it so the plan is coming together nicely. if anyone would like to donate any good condition old books then please drop them at reception.

Thank you to everyone who came along 🤗

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

05/09/2025

🚨☕️ Come and have a coffee on us ☕️🚨

With National Emergency Services Day next week we want to extend an invitation to all Emergency service workers in our area to come and take their break in our comfortable reception cafe.

Hot & cold drinks, cakes and biscuits are readily available and absolutely FREE, you can even just run in grab something and take it away with you if you only have a few minutes🥤and with the days now getting colder we want to make sure we can look after your needs like you look after the needs of our residents ❤️

Spread the word everyone so we can help keep our emergency services energy up 🫶

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

04/09/2025

⭐ LaingBuisson 2025 Award Finalist ⭐

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for the ‘Care Home Group of the Year’ category at the prestigious LaingBuisson Awards.

Now in their 20th year, the awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the UK health and social care industry.

With more than 400 entries submitted across each category, being named a finalist is a real honour.

This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication, hard work and compassion of all our teams and colleagues across Barchester – a big thank you for everything they do each day! 👏

The winners will be announced on the 20th November 2025 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

LaingBuisson LaingBuisson News

03/09/2025

✨🎭 Bringing the Fringe to Strachan House ✨🎵

Residents, families and visitors at Strachan House Care Home in enjoyed an afternoon of fantastic performances as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Care Fest.

Now in its third year, the Fringe Care Fest brings the magic of the Fringe directly to care home residents who can no longer visit the festival venues.

Talented singer and pianist Jacqui Randa warmed up the crowd with her excellent keyboard skills and cheeky anecdotes. After a short break for more prosecco in the sun, everyone relaxed to the wonderful voice of Duane Forrest.

It was an amazing experience, complete with a special party menu from the home’s kitchen team, plenty of drinks – and of course, lots of dancing.

A big thank you to all involved in making this event such a success. 👏

03/09/2025

🌈🎈Parachute fun with the toddlers 🎈🌈

We had a lot of laughs yesterday at our Mini fishers toddler group

We have many toys for the children to play with but the most interactive so far has been the parachute and balloons, all the residents and children gathered in a circle and played together, and as you can see everyone was smiling and laughing😊

The whole session ended with hand puppet old macdonald where residents and children had fun singing all the animal noises 🐄🐖🦆

We can’t wait for the next one 🎈🌈

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

Also, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our friendly team on the number 01225 871030

02/09/2025

⭐ A Perfect 10! ⭐

We’re thrilled to share that Iverley View Care Home in has received a 10 out of 10 score on the independent care home reviews site, carehome.co.uk, after a series of glowing reviews.

This fantastic achievement places Iverley View 7th out of 7,238 care homes across England and 1st in their county.

A big thank you to the team who work incredibly hard to provide the highest standard of care and support to residents and their families. Truly well deserved. 👏

.co.uk

01/09/2025

🚨📣community announcement 📣🚨

We have so many events this September here’s what’s coming up in the next 2 weeks

Mini fishers Toddler group, local toddlers and their adults welcome to come along and interact with our lovely residents.

Open day and Book Drive, we are holding a coffee morning, come and have a cake and a coffee in exchange for an old book or two!!

“Once upon a chair” Reading group for primary aged children and our resident’s, held after school, helping children gain confidence in reading aloud or just being read to by one of our resident.

Celebrating the Proms with professional opera singer Miranda, Prosecco and canapés in the garden!

All details are below and everyone is welcome to join the fun 🤗

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

Also, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our friendly team on the number 01225 871030

31/08/2025

Join us throughout the month of September for our special events.
Our local community is always welcome

☎️ 01225 871 030
📧 kingfisher@barchester.com
🌎 https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

29/08/2025

🐾 Residents Welcome Furry Friends 🐾

Our care homes and hospitals recently marked National Dog Day in style by hosting a range of activities for all to enjoy, including dog shows, pet therapy sessions and community events.

From four-legged companions to wagging tails and friendly competitions, it was a wonderful day that brought joy and smiles to everyone.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments. ✨

28/08/2025

🎉 what a party to end the school holiday club 🎉

Yesterday we had our third and final Summer Holiday Children’s Club 2025 and we went out with a bang. We hosted a retro children’s tea party with old school fun games such as musical statues, sleeping lions and pass the parcel.

The Pass the parcel was made by the residents the day before and each layer had a resident set task for the child who opened it! We had lots of lovely engagement between our residents and the children and everyone tucked into some delicious fruits and cup cakes also. As on previous summer club sessions we ended with children reading to residents.

Reading has been very popular with both the children and the residents so we have decided to have a regular monthly children’s reading group after school so look out for “Once upon a chair” in September. 📚

See you all during half term for Halloween Holiday club fun 🎃

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

27/08/2025

⭐ Champions of Care: The Care Quality Leaders Network ⭐

We’re delighted to share that Sue Sheath, our Director of Regulation and Quality Improvement, has been featured in this month’s Caring Times magazine for her work founding the Care Quality Leaders Network.

In June, the network held its first face-to-face conference entitled ‘Innovating Care Quality: Leadership in Action’ in London, bringing together colleagues from across the adult social care sector.

What began as a small group of providers meeting informally before the pandemic has grown under Sue’s leadership into a thriving network of over 90 organisations – from large operators to mid-sized and smaller providers nationwide – all united by a shared commitment to champion high-quality care.

Sue commented: “I am so proud of how this group has grown over the last five years into an incredible supportive network with real influence. I was keen to create an opportunity for the group to meet face to face to hear from some of the biggest names in the sector about the challenges and opportunities we face and share ideas and best practice. I would like to thank all our generous partners such as Radar Healthcare, Care Launch and Nourish Care, who made this event possible.”

We’re so proud of Sue for her hard work in creating this fantastic network and for running such a successful event that brought together so many excellent minds! 👏

27/08/2025

🌸🌼🌺 Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 🌺🌼🌸

We are very lucky here at Kingfisher Lodge to have a very special care assistant called Komal, Komal is so passionate about her Hindu faith that she often will bring our residents together on Hindu festivals and teach them all about the meaning and tradition around them, our residents are fascinated each and every time.

Yesterday we all learned about Ganesh Chaturthi, a celebration of the birth of Hindu god Ganesh, its celebrated over ten days starting today. Komal with help from another carer Sahil showed us how offerings are given and taught us about the traditions surrounding the day.
“Hindu celebrations are always so colourful, how wonderful” said one of our residents.

Thank you Komal and Sahil for sharing your culture and heritage with us all and we can’t wait for the next one 🌺🌼🌸

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

26/08/2025

📸 World Photography Day 🌟

Recently, residents and patients up and down the country celebrated World Photography Day with flair and creativity.

Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed a range of themed activities and art sessions, from crafting photo books and collages to participating in professional photoshoots and capturing images of their favourite objects and subjects.

It was also a wonderful opportunity for all to reflect on past experiences by looking at treasured photographs and sharing happy memories.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments.

26/08/2025

📣 Kingfisher Lodge Open Day 📣

On Saturday 6th September our home will be hosting an open day, please come along and take a tour of our lovely home and see what facilities we have to offer.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Contact our friendly team if you want any more information
☎️ 01225 871 030
📧 kingfisher@barchester.com
🌎 https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

25/08/2025

🎤🎶 The power of music 🎶🎤

Yesterday we had the pleasure of Josh Morton MUSIC singing for us in the garden.

Music can bring your soul to life, it expresses emotions unspoken and can immediately change how a person is feeling inside and out. Most of our residents here at Kingfisher Lodge love music and for some it’s a real life line for their mental health and well being.
The mix of live singing and being in the garden even if just for an hour can make their day.

“I have had so much fun, what a lovely way to spend a summer afternoon, being in the fresh air, listening to good music with my friends, and not forgetting the glass of wine!” Said Sheila one of our residents.

If ever you hear about one of our music events come along and see how much fun we have, everyone’s welcome 🤗

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

23/08/2025

🪭🪭 what a FAN tastic morning 🪭🪭

Another morning of getting our artistic juices flowing, this time we were designing our own fans and in this heat we need them!
Using acrylic pens and our imaginations we created some wonderful masterpieces.

Arts and crafts can not only be good for the soul and our creativity but also helps us with maintaining and improving our fine motor skills. For one of our residents who is living with Parkinson’s disease it is difficult to hold a pen but by regularly engaging in activity like this makes sure that she maintains and improves her use of them, “I want to be able to keep signing my name on letters and cards to friends, I know that using pens and pencils regularly keeps me doing this for as long as possible” long may this continue!

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

22/08/2025

✨🏍️ Speedway Wish Granted 🏍️✨

This week, the team at Hickathrift House Care Home in was delighted to grant another special wish through their ‘Post a Wish’ initiative – a visit to the King's Lynn Speedway - the Home of the Stars.

It was a fantastic experience, with riders kindly taking time to chat and reminisce with a resident about past races and bikes. The Speedway team ensured the evening was special, welcoming everyone on arrival and making the visit unforgettable.

Residents truly enjoyed sitting in the front row, cheering on the riders and sharing stories of speedway events gone by.

A big thank you to all involved in making this trip possible. 👏

King's Lynn Stars

22/08/2025

🎉🥳 🎈Summer children’s club party 🎈🥳 🎉

The Summer holidays are almost over and we are inviting you and your children to one last FREE children’s club event here at Kingfisher Lodge.

On Wednesday 27th August between 2pm and 3.30pm we will be throwing an “old school” retro children’s party, games will include pass the parcel and musical statues as well as some other old party classics. Children are encouraged to interact with our lovely residents and enjoy some fantastic intergenerational fun! And the day will end with the usual reading to residents for those children who wish to.

Refreshments including delicious cakes will be provided so why not come along and have a great afternoon with us!

If you would like to know more about life at Kingfisher Lodge, please visit our website: https://www.barchester.com/home/kingfisher-lodge-care-centre

Also, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our friendly team on the number 01225 871030

21/08/2025

🤩 Adventure Day Out for Mortain Place Residents 🤩

Residents at Mortain Place Care Home in enjoyed an unforgettable day at Knockhatch Adventure Park.

From speeding around the go-kart track and meeting extraordinary animals to splashing down the water slides, it was a day full of fun.

To make the trip even more special, residents and colleagues were joined by Malcolm from ITV News Meridian, who captured the excitement on camera and spoke to the residents about their experiences.

The team at Mortain Place believe days like this are an important way to enrich the lives of residents, creating lasting memories for all involved.

Take a look at the fantastic broadcast coverage below! 👇

Watch the latest from ITV News - Barchester Mortain Place in Eastbourne takes its residents on day trips to an adventure park with activities such as go-karting and water slides

19/08/2025

🦆📚 A Quacking Good Story from Atfield House 📚🦆

We’re excited to share that Atfield House Care Home in , London has launched their very own children’s storybook, inspired by a much-loved tradition and their nature-loving residents.

Each year, a duck named Hope visits the home’s garden to lay her eggs – a heart-warming event that has been taking place for many years. The experience sparks engagement, evokes memories and offers meaningful comfort to residents, supporting emotional and cognitive wellbeing with every quiet waddle.

After speaking with residents, families and colleagues, the team decided to capture the tale in a beautifully illustrated book.
The home looks forward to sharing the storybook with visitors and children from local schools – a great opportunity to spread the joy of this charming tradition.

You can explore their delightful storybook here 👇https://online.flippingbook.com/view/503801204/

18/08/2025

🏃‍♂️🏅 Great North Run - Marathon Effort for Charity 🏃‍♀️🏅

On Sunday, 7th September, five brave Barchester colleagues will take on the gruelling Great North Run to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

The Foundation supports older people and adults living with a disability by helping them connect or re-connect with others in their local communities.

Our amazing runners are:
• Becky Dearing, Health and Safety Coordinator
• Kirsty Taylor, Activities Lead at Chalfont Lodge Care Centre - Barchester Healthcare
• Zsuszanna Bodog, Care Assistant from Red Oaks Care Home - Barchester Healthcare
• Tom Hodges, Dementia Nurse Specialist for the North West and Midlands
• Yvonne Hand, General Manager at Glenroyd Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

They will lace-up their trainers and use grit and determination to complete the 13-mile half marathon course that starts in Newcastle upon Tyne and takes thousands of runners over the iconic Tyne Bridge in order to raise funds for Barchester's Charitable Foundation.

Wishing the very best of luck to the runners! 👏

13/08/2025

🎤🎵 Come Sing! To Feel Good 🎤🎵

Residents and patients across the country had a fantastic time joining Dan Cooper, Vocal Coach from Biiah, for a lively summer virtual sing-along.

With the uplifting ‘Que Sera Sera’ by Doris Day and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ by The Beach Boys, there was plenty of singing and dancing all around.

The session was a great success, bringing benefits for the mind, body and soul, and leaving everyone with a dose of summer cheer.

A big thank you to Dan Cooper for the wonderful experience. 👏

Take a look at some of our favourite moments in the photos below.

🔗 www.barchester.com

11/08/2025

✨A Roaring 1920s Summer Fête at Ashlar House ✨

Ashlar House Care Home in turned back the clock for a spectacular Summer Fete inspired by the glamour of the 1920s.

Residents, families, colleagues and guests dressed to impress, bringing the glamour and spirit of the Jazz Age to life.

From Charleston dancing and live entertainment to delicious food, sweet treats and a much-loved raffle. There was something for everyone to enjoy.

It was a fantastic experience for all involved. 👏